NOW PLAYING

Iran threatens to hit 'terror safe havens' in Pakistan

Army chief's warning following 10 soldiers' deaths rejected by Pakistan as "against the spirit of brotherly relations".

09 May 2017 12:25 GMT

Pakistan's foreign office has summoned the Iranian ambassador over an ultimatum by the head of Iran's armed forces that his country will attack areas sheltering "terrorists" in Pakistan unless it tightens control over its borders and stops what he calls cross-border attacks.

Major-General Mohammad Baqeri made the comments on Monday, nearly two weeks after 10 Iranian border guards were killed in clashes near Mirjaveh, a town near the Iran-Pakistan border.

Jaish ul-Adl (Army of Justice), a Sunni armed group fighting for independence in Iran's Sistan-Baluchestan province, claimed responsibility for the attack.

How much power does the Iranian president have?

It said it had shot the guards with long-range guns fired from inside Pakistan.

"We expect Pakistani officials to control the borders, arrest the terrorists and shut down their bases," Iran's FARS news agency quoted Baqeri as saying.

"If the terrorist attacks continue, we will hit their safe havens and cells, wherever they are."

On Tuesday Pakistan's foreign office said the comments went "against the spirit of brotherly relations".

"During the visit of the Iranian foreign minister [Mohammad Javad Zarif] to Islamabad on 3rd May 2017, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation on the border issues," it said.

"The Iranian side was urged to avoid issuance of such statements that could vitiate the environment of fraternal relations."